Torrential rains unleashed flooding and high winds and generated warnings of landslides to Hawaii and Maui, the two largest Hawaiian islands, on Friday, all part of a storm system that has been sweeping southeast through the chain of islands this week.

On the island of Hawaii, known as the Big Island because it’s the largest in the archipelago, rain drenched the North Kona district from Keauhou to Kailua-Kona, the second largest community on the island and a center of tourism and commerce with a population of about 20,000 people.

Up to 3 inches of rain was expected to fall along the island’s west side by the end of the day, the National Weather Service said.

Thunderstorms and high winds reached the Big Island on Friday but were expected to weaken before today.

The storm had migrated southeast over several days along the chain of islands, from Kauai to Oahu and then reaching Maui, the second largest island, on Thursday, when heavy rainfall led to floods that inundated communities.

— The New York Times